Any good USB TV tuners or video capture devices?

[MWink]

I'm looking for a good TV tuner to go with the IBM Thinkpad T40 I just ordered. In the past I used an ATI TV Wonder USB with my Inspiron 8200 and it totally sucked. The video quality was fair but the software had a 75% chance of crashing my computer when I started it. It also had horrible sound and the sound and video would not sync when I captured it. I sold it on Ebay a while back.

Since the T40 has USB 2.0 I'm wondering if there's a better USB 2.0 TV tuner? I also NEED it to be able to capture video properly at a reasonably good resolution/frame rate with no sound sync issues. I want to be able to capture DVD quality video because I plan to burn some things to DVD.

Anyone know of a USB 2.0 TV tuner that would fit the bill? I'd like it to be cheap <$75 if possible but I'd consider going higher if it's really good.

 

[0roo0roo]

how do you capture dvd quality off a tuner? tuner quality is always below dvd quality, and computer tuners are even lower. sometimes they toss half the res to get rid of the interlacing.

i'm not sure one exists yet, i'd like to know if one does though. i also have firewire on my laptop, doubt they have a tuner for that either.

 

[hjo3]

The PixelView PlayTV USB 2.0 would probably do nicely for you. It captures at DVD quality. Runs about $85 though.

 

[hjo3]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
how do you capture dvd quality off a tuner? tuner quality is always below dvd quality, and computer tuners are even lower. sometimes they toss half the res to get rid of the interlacing.

DVDs have a resolution of 720x480, right? Some tuners capture at that res... assuming you get one that doesn't "toss half the res," wouldn't the end result be DVD quality?

 

[0roo0roo]

assuming no loss from degredation, and with a progressive dvd source i suppose.

 

[MWink]

Originally posted by: hjo3
The PixelView PlayTV USB 2.0 would probably do nicely for you. It captures at DVD quality. Runs about $85 though.

That appears to be exactly what I was looking for. Thanks.

 

[Chadder007]

My ATI TV USB works good only on my laptop....if I plug it up to my PC it get all sorts of interference. I think its all of the fans inside of my case.